Key Issues

Federal Funding

AAMD advocates for funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Humanities, which provide grants to art museums on a competitive basis. According to the AAMD 2015 Statistical Report, these three agencies award approximately $12.2 million annually to AAMD member museums. In addition,the NEA administers the Federal Indemnity program, which saves art museums millions of dollars in insurance fees.

Congress and the President determine the budgets for the three agencies on an annual basis, and AAMD collaborates with various coalitions to try to obtain the most favorable results. In March 2017, the Trump administration proposed elimination of NEA, NEH and IMLS. In May, however, congressional leaders struck a deal that actually provides small increases for the three agencies through the end of September.

Recent AAMD testimony to government agencies on NEA, NEH, and IMLS funding is available in the side bar to the right.

Information on the agencies' budgets and grant-making procedures can be found at their respective websites: